Pneumatic tube carrier



June 2, 1931. P ERBY 1,807,834

PNEUMATIC TUBE CARRIER Filed April 2. 1930 Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES rAreNt oFFlcE PHILIP ERBY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T SAMUEL OLSON & COMPANY, INC., 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS PNEUMATIC TUBE CARRIER Application led April 2, 1930. Serial No. 440,892.

This invention relates to carriers for pneu* matic dispatch tube apparatus, and more particularly to carriers oi the type opening at one end for the introduction and removal of the contents, and having a closure element adapted to be adjusted so that in operative position it lies entirely within the carrier, but arranged to be extended beyond the end of said carrier and rotated thereor to open position.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved carrier of this type, having means for yieldinoly maintaining the closure element seated at either ci` its positions of adjustment, and arranged for yieldingly opposing its rotation when it is so seated. Another object is to provide a construction in which the closure element, in its open position, stands in longitudinally spaced relation to the end of the carrier. A further object resides in the provision of means for automatically aligning the closure element centrally with the carrier prior to its entrance into the carrier, positivel guiding it in true central relation to the carrier throughout its range of longitudinal movement within the carrier body.l The invention consists in certain features and elements of construction, arranged in novel relation, herein shown and described, as indicated by the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a carrier embodying the present invention; with the closure element in inoperative position.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation with parts in section to show the closure element and associated parts in operative position.

Figure 3 is a view oi the open end of the carrier, with the closure element shown in operative position.

Figure 4: is a perspective view of the upper portion of the guide tube, which controls the path of the movement of the closure element.

Figure 5 is a. fragmentary sectional view of a modified construction; and

Figure 6 is a view looking at the open end of the carrier shown in Figure 5.

The carrier embodying the present invention is in general similar to that disclosed in Patent No. 1,176,918 issued to J. T. Needham, March 28, 1916, and represents certain refinements and improvements in carriers of this type.

Referring now in detail to the drawings,- the carrier includes a tubular body, 10, of any suitable material such as metal, fibre, etc., open at one end and having the other end secured in a cup-shaped cap, 11, which in turn is firmly secured to a buiier head or piston, 12. rlhe opposite or open end of the tubular body is provided with an external reinforcing band, 18, preferably terminating Hush with the end or' the body. Although carriers having single buffers or pistons have proven entirely satisfactory in commercial use, it may be desirable to provide a second buier at the opposite end, which is herein indicated at 12EL in dotted outline, as of annular form, and which may be firmly secured on the reinforcing band, 13, in any suitable manner. Rigidly secured to the inner wall of tubular body,

10, is a longitudinally extending guide tube, 15, formed substantially cylindrical from a piece of iiat stock. rIhe abutting longitudinal edges, 15a, of said guide tube are provided with integral tangs, 16, which areprojected through the wall of the tubular body, and clinched over for securing the tube in place. To further insure permanent securement of the guide tube, the lower edge adjacent the abutting edges, 15a, is formed with tangs, 17, which are folded around the lower edge of the tubular body; the cup member, 11, being provided with a lateral embossment, 11a, to accommodate said tangs, 17, as seen in the drawings.

Rotatable and longitudinally movable in the guide tube, 15, is a stem or rod, 19, which is loosely journaled in a block, 20, which is rigidly secured inthe tube, and rigidly secured to said stem at its lower end and adja* cent its upper endvare guide blocks, 21 and 22, respectively, dimensioned for guidance in said tube. Circumscribing the stem and interposed between the fixed block, 20, and the guide block, 21, on the inner end of said stem is a coil spring, 23, which tends to yieldingly urge the stem in the direction toward the closed end of the tubular body. The closure element, indicated at 25, is dimensioned to effectively occupy the cross sectional area of the open end of said tubular body, and is herein shown as an open, flat spiral, formed as al continuation of the upper end of the stem, 19. The portion of the stem merging into the closure element proper is arched as at 26, and extends substantially diametrically of the closure element to form a convenient finger grip for manipulating the same. It may be understood that this closure element may be of other forms, as, for example, a solid disk member, of a size to fit freely in the tubular body.

The upper end of the stem, beyond the guide block, 22, is providedwith a lateral 0E- set forming a transverse shoulder, 29, dimensioned to project laterally beyond the guide tube, 15, and engageable in either of a pair of upwardly open notches, 30 and 31, in the upper end of the tube, as seen in Figure 4, for maintaining the closure element seated in either operative or inoperative position. These notches are shown substantially diametrically opposite each other, with the shallow notch, 31, located centrally of the abutting edges, 15, of the guide tube. In the construction shown in Figures 1 to 4, the upper end of the guide tube, 15, terminates short of the end of the tubular body, and the portion of the stem intermediate the shoulder, 29, and the closure element, 25, is dimensioned so that when the closure element is Withdrawn longitudinally beyond the end of the tubular body, against the reaction of spring, 23, it may be rotated to one side, about the axis of the stem, permitting the shoulder to seat in the notch, 31, with the closure element disposed in spaced relation to the end of said tubular body, as seen in Figure 1. This feature of construction is important in that there is no possibility of mutilating or damaging the upper edge of the body, 10, by any part of the stem or closure element engaging the same. To insure clearance and proper support and reinforcement for the shoulder, 29, when seated in notch, 31, I preferably slot the tubular body as at 10a, to permit employing a shoulder of substantial size. I

Since it is desirable to have the closure element, 25, and handle, 26,V disposed Within the tubular body When in operative position,

so as to avoid damage by contact with other carriers, either in transit in the transmission tube or when being discharged at a station, there results a substantial range of longitudinal movement of the closure element, be-

tween operative and inoperative positions,V

and hence the notch, 30, which is engageable by the shoulder, 29, is formed relatively deep to accommodate this movement. The elongated notch, 30, thus insures maintaining the closure element in proper central relation to the tubular body throughout its entire range of longitudinal movement Within the body.

nsozese The upper edge of the guide tube intermediate the notches, 31, 31, is formed with an inclined surface, 33, sloping downwardly toward notch, 30. This surface, 33, acts as a cam and is engageable by the shoulder, 29, for controlling the path of movement of said closure element.

It will be apparent that when the shoulder, 29, is seated in either of the notches, 31, or 31, they act as detents for locking the closure element against rotation, but permitting it to be longitudinally moved to free itself from the notch for turning laterally to or from operative position. Thus after the shoulder, 29, has been moved out of the notch, 31, (in Which it is engaged When the closure stands open) ,the shoulder, 29, immediately acts cam- Wise on the surface, 33, under the force of spring, 23, causing the stem and closure element to be rotated toward the body. The cam surface and stem are so dimensioned as to insure that the closure element is automatically aligned centrally of the tubular body as it enters. By virtue ofthis construction, the closure element is definitely held at either operative or open position, and the cam action prevents any possibility of the closure element being arrested in partially closed position, with a portion overhanging the end of the body of the carrier, in such aposition that it might catch in the transmission tube at a oint or bend, thus blocking the tube and' causing expense and delay. To permit swinging the closure element in either direction to or from operative position, both portions of the upper edge of the guide tube, 15, between the notches, 30 and 31, are formed as cam surfaces, 33. v

The modified construction shown in Figures 5 and 6, includes a fixed guide tube, 15x, similar in construction to the tube, 15, in Figures 1 to 4, except being slightly elongated to extend a short distance beyond the end of the tubular body. The tube is provided With slots, 30x and 31", and the upper edge of said tube connect-ing said notches is formed as a cam, 33X, for cooperation with a transverse shoulder, 29X, formed by a right angular bend ilu in the upper end of said stem, 19X; this pory tion of the bend of the stem merges into a flatspiral forming a closure element, 25X, for the open end of the body, 10. In forming the spiral coil an intermediate portion is bent and arched perpendicularly to form a finger grip, 26X, for manipulation of said closure element. The operation of this modified construction is substantially the same as of that disclosed in Figures 1 to 4, and has substantially all of the same advantages.

I claim:

1. A carrier ofthe class described including a tubular body having an open end, a longitudinally movable rotatable stem associated therewith,'means for supporting the stem adjacentI the inner Wall of the body, a

spring acting on the stem and tending to move the latter inwardly, a closure element rigidly carried by the outer end of the stem and dimensioned to eiiectively occupy the internal cross-sectional area of the open end of said body, said closure element being movable longitudinally beyond the end of the body against the reaction of the spring, and then rotatable laterally of said body, and guide means associated with the stem arranged to force the closure element to move in spaced relation to the end oi said tubular body when it rotates into or out of alignment with the interior of said body.

2. In the construction defined in claim l, said guide means connecting with a detent normally tending to oppose rotation of said closure element when disposed in its laterally offset position.

3. A carrier of the class described including a tubular body having an open end, a longitudinally movable rotatable stem associated therewith, means for supporting the stem adjacent the inner wall of the body, a spring acting on the stem and tending to move the latter inwardly, a closure element rigidly carried by the outer end of the stem and dimensioned to effectively occupy the internal cross-section area of the'open end of said body, said closure element being movable longitudinally beyond the end of the body against the reaction of the spring, and then rotatable laterally of said body, and means for positively guiding said closure element in true central relation to the tubular body throughout its longitudinal range of movement in said body.

el. A carrier of the class described including a tubular body having an open end, a longitudinally movable rotatable stem associated therewith, means for supporting the stem adjacent the inner wall of the body, a spring acting on the stem and tending to mov the latter inwardly, a closure element rigidly carried by the outer end of the stem and dimensioned to effectively occupy the internal cross-section area of the open end ol said body, said closure element being movable longitudinally beyond the end of the body against the reaction of the spring, and then rotatable laterally of said body, stop means on the body engageable with a stop shoulder on the stem when said closure element has been swung to the laterally oset position, for supporting said closure element in spaced relation to the end oi' the tubular body, and guide means associated with the stem and adapted to automatically align said closure element centrally of the open end of said body, aft-er said stop means has been disengaged with the stop shoulder on the stem.

5. A carrier of the class described including tubular body having an open end, a longitudinally movable rotatable stem associated therewith, means Jfor supporting the able longitudinally beyond the end of thev body against the reaction of the spring, and then rotatable laterally of said body, stop means on the body engageable with a stop shoulder on the stem when'said closure element has been swung to the laterally oii'set position, Jfor supporting said closure element in spaced relation to the end of the tubular body, and guide means associated with the stem and adapted to automatically align said closure element centrally of the open end of said body, after said stop means has been disengaged with the stop shoulder on the stem, said guide means being adapted to cause simultaneous rotary and longitudinal movement of said closure element and stem, and being further arranged to cause alignment of the closure element with the interior oi the tubular body before it enters the open end of said body. f

6. A carrier of the class described including a tubular body having an open end, a longitudinally movable rotatable stem associated therewith, means for supporting the stem adjacent the inner wall oi the body, a spring acting on the stem and tending to move the latter inwardly, a closure element rigidly carried by the outer end of the stem and dimensioned to effectively occupy the internal cross-section area of the open end of said body, said closure element being movable longitudinally beyond the end of the' body against the reaction of the spring, and then rotatable laterally of said body, stop means on the body engageable with astop 'shoulder on the stem when said closure element has been swlmg to the laterally oiiset position, for supporting said closure element in spaced relation to the end of the tubular body, and guide means asy sociated with the stem and adapted to automatically align said closure element centrally of the open end of said body, after said stop means has been disengaged with the stop shoulder on the stem, said guide means being adapted to cause simultaneous rotary and longitudinal movement of said closure element and stem, and being further arranged to cause alignment of the closure element with the interior of the tubular body before it enters the open end of said body; and means associated with the stem for positively guiding the closure element in substantially central relation to said tubular body throughout its range of'longitudinal movement therein.

7. A carrier of the class described, including a tubular body having an open end, arotatable, longitudinally movable stem, a longitudinally disposed tube secured to the inner Wall of the tubular body and arranged for guiding and supporting said stem, a spring within the tube arranged for yieldingly urging said stem inwardly, a closure element for the open end of the body, rigidly associated with the stem, and substantially occupying the internal cross-sectional area of said body, said closure element being movable in longitudinal direction beyond the end of said body, against the reaction of the spring, and rotatable laterally of said body, said stem having a transverse stop shoulder engageable with a stop shoulder on said tube for supporting the closure element in such laterally offset position and in spaced relation to the end of the tubular body, and the upper edge of said tube being formed with a sloping cam surface engageable by said transverse stop shoulder of the stem after said stop has been moved outJ of engagement with the stop on the tube for causing simultaneous rotary and longitudinal movement of said closure element for aligning the same centrally ofthe tubular body prior to the entry therein.

8. In the construction defined in claim 7, the upper end of said tube having such a cam surface on each side of said stop toV control said closure element when rotated in either direction from said laterally oif-set position.

9. In the construction defined in claim 7, said transverse stop surface on the stem being formed by a transverse bend'in said stem.

l0. A carrier of the class described, including a tubular body having an open end, a rotatable, longitudinally movable stem, a longitudinally disposed tube secured to the inner Wall of the tubular body and arranged for guiding and supporting said stem, a spring Within the tube arranged for yieldingly urg- .ing said stem inwardly, a closure element for the open end of the body, rigidly associated with the stem, and substantially occupying the internal cross-sectional area of said body, said closure element being movable in longitudinal direction beyond the end of said body, against kthe reaction of the spring, and rotatable laterally of said body, the upper end of said tube having a cam surface engageable being elongated to provide guidance for and to accommodate the closure element throughout its range of longitudinal movement in the tubular body. l

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 24th day of March, 1930.

PHILIP ERBY.

by a transverse shoulder on the' stem for causing simultaneous rotary and longitudinal movement ofthe closure element in closing direction, for aligning the same centrally with respect to the tubular body, and said tube having notches at the respective limits of the cam surface, engageable by said shoulder on the stem and adapted for normallyropposing rotation of said stem and closure element at either of its limits of movement.

11. In the construction defined in claim l0,

said closure element in operative position being normally disposed a substantial distance Within the end of said tubular body, and the notch for engaging the off-set shoulder on the stem-in such position of the closure element 

